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f H. SADDLIEMIREr SHIELD.

APPLICATION FILED NOI/ 20. 191B.

Patepted oet. 14,1919.

31A/veul@ z Saddle/Mr@ Y y wow m Hanny SADDLEMIRE,.0F oiinrrrltnl.'v Buinen, NEW YORK.

SHIELD.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Oct. 1.4, 1919.

' Application mea 'November 2o, 191s. serial No. 263,365.

To all whom z't may concern.'

Be it known that I, HARRY SADDLEMIRE, a citizen of the United States, residing 'at Central Bridge, in the countyof Schoharie,

and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shields, of which the followlng is a specitication.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in body shields and has for its primary object the provision of a shield adapted to be worn by soldiers as a protection against bullets or bayonet thrusts.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the shield that portions thereof will be movable to permit bending of the body when the shield is secured in position.

Another object of the invention is to construct the shield of a plurality of sections including an intermediate cushioning section adapted to absorb, the shock caused by the impact of bullets or bayonet thrusts against the outer section .of the shield.

A still further object vof the invention're- 'sidesin the peculiarmanner of securing the hingedly connected sections of the shield together so that it will be impossible for a bullet .or the like to pass between the connectedr edges of these sections.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of means for securely and comfortably attaching the 'shield to the body of the wearer.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description and vdrawings wherein I have illustrated the'invention `in its preferred embodiment and in which drawings: Y

Figure 1 is a view showing in front elevation, a/ shield constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2- -'2 VofFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is aview vtaken .Online 3+3 of Fig. 1.

he shield, in the preferred embodiment shown, consists of an outer section l, an

inner ysection 2, and an intermediate section 3, secured together by rivets 4 orother fastening means. The outer and inner sections of thls'shield are substantially duplicate in construction and preferably are of the shape shown in Fig. 1.

The outer section is composed of a plurality of plates comprising an upper main plate 5 a lower plate 6, and anintermediate plate 7 having its upper and lower edges overlapping the corresponding edges of the plates 5 and 6. The overlapping edges of these plates are cut out as indicated at, 8 to providev a neat joint showing therebetween and are connected for swinging' movement by suitable hinges 9 which 'are so arranged Vas to permit outward swinging movement of each plate. This manner of hinging the plates of the section together is of advantage in that it permits the body of the wearer to be bent readily whenever desired and inthis connection -it is also pointed out that the edges of the plates are made overlapping in order to prevent the formation of directpassages between these edges when the plates are in angular relation to one another as when bending the body and thus the possibility of a bullet assing between the edges of these plates is o viated.

The inner section 2 is composed of a plurality of plates 1 0, l1 and 12 which are identical in construction to the plates 5, 6 and 7 and have their correspondlng edges overlapped in the same manner. It will ybe noted in this connection that it is unnecessary to hinge the plates l0,I l1 and 12 together owing to the fact that each of these' plates is rivetedto the corresponding plate lof the section l and is adapted to move or swing in conjunction therewith. i

The intermediate vsection 3 secured be tween the outer and inner sections is preferably composed of 4cork though` any other compressible material may be used. This' intermediate section as clearly shown in Fig.

2 is made in separate pieces arranged between opposlng plates of the inner and outer sections and spaced apart to provide intervening spaces of suiicient area to permit free swinging movement of the overlapping edges of the outer'and inner sections.

i outwardly as when bending the body it will be obvious that the plates Il and 12 of the inner section will move in con]unct1on therewith, the overlapping edges of these hlnged plates being so arranged as to prevent the formation of any direct c reviccs therebetween. i v

To provide for attaching the shleld in po- AsA clearly shown in Fig. 2, the intermediate,

sition the upper main plate of one of the sections, preferably the outer section 1 1s provided at its upper edge with a pair of shoulder engaging supports 13. These supporting elements 13 arecurved to extend to one side of the shield and may be padded on the under surface as indicated at 14 for engagement with the shoulders ofthe wearer to conform to which the shoulder engaging elements 13 are curved throughout` their length. Vertical straps 15 adapted to eX- tend along the back or sides of the wearer are secured at their upper ends to these 'shoulder engaging supports and.' at their lower ends to a walst'encircling strap 16. The ends of this strap 16 are secured to the vertical edges of the body portion of the shield in any suitable manner and is provided with an 'adjusting buckle 17 whereby the strap may be tightened about the waist.

1 rom the foregoing it will be evident that I have provided an improved form of shield which may be comfortably secured upon the.'

body of 'the wearer and will serve as an effective barrier against bullets lor bayonet thrusts. The manner of connecting the plates of the outer and inner sections of the shield will permit thebody of the wearer to be readily bent when desiredand at the same time will prevent the possibility of bullets passing between the connected edges of the plates when the latter are in angular relation to one another. It will be furthermore noted that as the intermediate section 3 is composed of cork or other compressible material, the outer section of the shield will be permitted to have a slight inward move-gr" .what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A shield comprising outer and inner sections, each of which consists of a plurality of Vplates having 'the corresponding edges thereof overlapping, the plates of one section being hinged 'together and the plates of the remaining section being secured to said hinged plates to move in conjunction therewith. l

2. A shield comprising an outer and inner section each of which consists of a plurality of relatively movable plates having their corresponding edges overlapping, and a compressible section secured between the outer andinner sections and forming a cushioning medium therebetween.

3. A shield comprising outer and inner sections each of which consists of a plurality of plates having the corresponding edges thereof overlapping, the plates of one section being hinged together and the lates of the remaining sections secured to sai hinged plates to move .in conjunction therewith, and an intermediate section comprising a plurality of compressible pads arranged between the opposing plates of the outer and inner sections and spaced apart to permit movement of the overlapping edges of saidL plates.

4. A shield comprising outer and inner sections, each of which consists of a plurality 'of plates, the 'plates of one section being hinged together and the plates of the remaining section being secured t'o said hinged plates to move in unison therewith.

5. A shield comprising outer and inner sections each of which consists of a 1urality of plates having the corresponding edges thereof overlapping, the plates of one .section being hinged together and the plates of the remaining sections being secured to said hinged plates to move in conjunction therewith, and an intermediate section comprising a plurality of `compressible vpads arranged between the opposing plates of the outer and innen sections and spaced apart to permit movement of the overlapping edges of said plates.

6. A shield comprising outer and inner sections, each/of-which consists of a plurality of plates having the corresponding edges thereofoverlapping, the plates of one section being hinged together and the plates of the remaining sections .being secured to said hinged plates to move in conjunction therewith, and a compressible section secured between the outer and innerv sections and' forming a cushioning medium therebetween.

7. A shield comprising a plurality of plates, hingedly mounted upon. each other, each plate having a portion thereof adjacent its edge reduced to form a comparatively thin flange, the flanges thus formed on the plates overlapping to provide joints of the plates to prevent direct passages therethrough, whereby the plates will overlap each other and provide even inner and outer surfaces thereupon.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature 120 in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY SADDLEMIRE.

Witnesses HARRY W. WRIGHT, JENNm E. LAWYER. 

